Home > Reviews > USA > Alliance Modelworks 1/35 scale Set No. LW35048; Allied WWII Vehicle Tie-Downs and Tool Buckles

Allied WWII Vehicle Tie-Downs and Tool Buckles

Alliance Modelworks, 1/35 scale

Reviewed by Cookie Sewell

Summary

Stock Number and Description	Alliance Modelworks 1/35 scale Set No. LW35048; Allied WWII Vehicle Tie-Downs and Tool Buckles
Scale:	1/35
Media and Contents:	288 items in etched brass
Price:	estimated retail price US$12.00 available from Alliance Modelworks, 1001 Hunter Lane, Lake Saint Louis, MO 63367 or via http://www.am-works.com
Review Type:	First Look
Advantages:	Nice, neatly organized set of details common to all US WWII vehicles; tie-down loops use the “clear etched” method using sticky plastic backing
Disadvantages:	Requires skill in molding and shaping some parts
Recommendation:	Highly Recommended for anyone modeling US WWII (and some later) vehicles

FirstLook

Etched brass has rapidly become a staple of armor modeling, but some sets can border on the ridiculous. As a result, picking the best combination of items to offer is a difficult task. Pick too many “nitnoy” parts and they remain on the fret, with the added problem that the modeler will not repurchase items from the company. Too few or too high a price, and again the modeler will pass it by. Pick the right combination, and you will have a customer for a long time.

Alliance Modelworks is a new company to me - they apparently have concentrated on ship modeling in 1/700 and 1/350 scales prior to now - but were at the 2012 IPMS USA Nationals with a full display of their products.

While I freely admit to not being a big etched brass user, there are certain things that brass does do better than plastic and where it comes in handy. This set covers most of those bases and provides a great general purpose set for US military vehicles, primarily WWII but also applicable to the present day in some cases.

The set provides a large variety of general purpose items: 48 straps, 76 strap-and-buckle sets (WWII leather style), four jerry can holder sets, four shovel attachment straps, four pick (mattock) mounts, and other items. They also provide 120 tie-down loops which are etched using the attachment free method and are fixed onto a plastic backing that holds them in place until needed.

Overall this set looks to be far more usable than some from other companies which are too involved, and the general range of products (such as etched mesh and grille sheets) is very usable as well.

Fret Layout:

– 168 Buckles, straps, jerry can holders, fittings
– 120 Tie-down loops

Thanks to Freddie Leung for the review sample.